A productive and happy day starts with a productive morning routine! Since I started working for myself two years ago, I have learned how important it is to take the time to set your mind and body up for a successful day. In this post, I’m sharing 5 simple things to do in the morning to feel happy, calm, and in charge of your day.

I turned my passion for health and wellness into a very fulfilling and inspiring career. I actually wake up looking forward to doing the things I love. Besides teaching Pilates, I love writing about health and wellness and connecting with people around the world through my blog and Instagram.

I have the best job in the world. And I'm grateful for it everyday!

Whether you're just starting out your career in health and wellness or you've been on it for a while now, I know EXACTLY how you feel. I want to remind you that no matter where you're at right now, you can create a life and career you LOVE. And I'm here to share my story and tips to help you on your journey.

MY STORY

At the age of 25, I moved to the US—to the other side of the world from Turkey—to get my master’s degree. After finishing my M.A degree in Education at the University of San Francisco, I found myself questioning what I really wanted to do with my life. I wasn't very passionate about my job or future career in Linguistics. I started to doubt every decision I made about my life, ended up going through a bad quarter life crisis.

As if that wasn't enough, we had to cancel our wedding in Turkey that summer... because we lost our passports. We were not allowed to reenter the States if we left the country. Anxiety and depression hit me even harder. I was desperate to see my family, was terribly homesick and really hated my life in US. I didn't have a close circle of girlfriends and no job to look forward to in the morning. I just wanted to quit everything and reevaluate my life's purpose. During this soul ( and career) searching phase, I took the following four simple steps:

Hello hello! :)It's a sunny Sunday morning here in San Francisco. And I'm so happy to be back to my blog with 5 amazing book recommendations! These books helped me so much in my personal growth, spiritual practice and having a positive perspective on life. If you are looking for some books to curl up with this season, definitely give one of these a try.

​I completed my Pilates teacher training in San Francisco about a year ago. I still remember exactly how I felt before and during my training: TERRIFIED, EXCITED, CONFUSED, LIT UP, INSECURE, JOYFUL, PROUD. These cocktail of feelings still come up everyday.

I believe skincare starts with skin and sun protection. I will admit, it took me about 25 years to finally accept that SPF is an everyday "must", just like a moisturizer. So, I'm really happy to see that there is more awareness around this issue and some brands are doing an amazing job of creating quality formulas.

Happy mornings start with a rested mind and body. So, the first step is to go to bed early and get at least 7 to 8 hours of sleep every night. If you get good quality sleep, you will wake up energized and ready to start the day. I usually go to bed around 9pm and look forward to cozying up in my Buffy comforter. It's so soft and luxuriously fluffy just like my cat haha. Do you see him in the picture below? :)

1. Get enough sleep.

Hi beautifuls!I'm finally sharing my skincare routine that some of you requested. :) It's all about simplicity, minimalism and "out the door in 5 minutes". I believe in protecting and perfecting my actual skin instead for covering it with lots of makeup. As I started to take on this approach, I'm needing even less and less makeup on a daily basis – which I absolutely loveeee! So, keep on reading if you like an easy routine for fresh, natural, glowy skin.

Actually, I wasn't planning on writing a reflection post this year or share any of the lists below when I wrote them down in my notebook in a hotel room in New York on New Year's Eve. But then I saw a "January Feelings" post I had written exactly one year ago. I thought I should keep writing these every year – even if it's just for myself and no one else reads it. It's pretty amazing to look back and remember your feelings and thoughts on life one year ago.​

If you've been following my story along , I started my career in Pilates and wellness not too long ago – with lots of fear and hesitation. I'm now a certified Pilates instructor based in SF and still continuing my Pilates education to keep learning and growing in my career.​With this blog, my aim is to be able to share the benefits of this amazing mindful movement with all my friends and readers far and close. :)

As much as I love spending all my money on fancy turmeric lattes at health cafes, I've been enjoying recreating all the amazing recipes at home. There's just something about making yourself a warm cuppa and enjoying it in your pajamas. :)

Oatmilk Matcha Latte

One of my October intentions is to cook at home more often. Even though I make healthy choices when I eat out, nothing compares to a home cooked meal – especially during long, cold Fall days. So, I made a quick grocery run and stocked my fridge with healthy whole foods.

All ORGANIC and I only paid $60 for all of this. Maybe that's not super cheap, but to me it's perfect in comparison to eating out every day. Also, I'm definitely lacking

Tips to cook at home more:

So, my goal is to eat at home for the most part of the week. ​Here are my tips to make this happen:

Always stock up on the essentials: For me, that's brown rice, noodles and quinoa.

Choose a few easy healthy recipes for the week. I usually stalk recipes on Instagram or Youtube. I'm loving Deliciously Ella and Madeleine Shaw's recipes at the moment. They all look super delicious and healthful.

Go andget the ingredients at the start of the week –ideally Sunday or Monday.

Cook for 2-3 portions at a time to have leftover for lunch and dinner next day. ​

I'm also sharing what I make with these ingredients on my Instagram stories throughout the week. I hope this mini post and my meals inspire you to cook healthy delicious food in your own kitchen. Happy healthy eating! :)

Hey hi hellooo!It’s been awhile since my last post. Thank you so much for sticking around if you were already following along.

Here’s what happened while I was gone: I got married to my boyfriend of 8 years– still can’t get used to calling him my husband! :) We had a beautiful intimate wedding on the west coast of Turkey. Here’s a little fun boomerang from that day. ​

I also took a looong digital break. Honestly, I’d recommend doing this to anyone. It’s so easy to get caught up in the social media world, especially Instagram. During my time away, I just realized one more time what is really important to me– spending time with my family, friends and just simply enjoying life. To go out, eat, and do whatever I'm doing without worrying about getting the “perfect” shot.

Finally,a quick Pilates update. I’ve just completed all my Pilates teacher training coursework. High five ME! It’s been a difficult but such a rewarding experience. I’m so grateful for all the support from my family and friends. You can find my Pilates classes in San Francisco here.

Meanwhile, if you can’t make it to a class but you love Pilates, I’d still love to help you in your practice. So, please let me know if you’d like to see Pilates related posts, workout tips here on the blog– all suggestions are so welcome.

Now, I’m just getting back to the swing of life here in California – doing yoga and Pilates, drinking matcha lattes and working on my blog. Stay tuned for more posts from me. :) And please say HI! and update me on what’s going on in your life! I love hearing from you.

The most important health & wellness habit I've formed is meditation. ​Meditation helped me connect with my body and mind to understand myself better. It helped me become happier, healthier, more peaceful and more focused in every area of my life.I'm not perfect at it, but I've learned a lot since I started.How I started my meditation practice?Sitting in silence and doing nothing was the hardest thing to do for me. I thought I can never meditate because my mind would never stop. It turns out everyone has a similar story. We are all constantly thinking, criticizing, feeling and planning things. Good news is you don't need to completely silence or control your mind to start meditating. That is why it's called "practice". All you need to do is just start. Here are my tips to help you start your practice. :)

Super Healthy Salad

Some days we eat waffles and leftover pizza, some days we eat quinoa salad. Isn't it all about balance?​So, here's a very healthy and simple salad recipe for you to enjoy for lunch or dinner. If you don't know already, I LOVE exploring healthy food cafes and recreate their recipes at home. I've had this salad many times in one of my favorite spots in SF, Jane on Fillmore. It's so delicious and easy to throw together!

Ingredientsromaine, baby spinach, dino kale, quinoa, cucumber, one avocado, organic seed mix (optional) *add chicken/salmon/ hard boiled eggs for a protein boost (optional)​MethodFor the quinoa: Rinse your quinoa. Pour the quinoa and water (or broth) in a medium saucepan. The ratio is 1 cup of uncooked quinoa to 2 cups of liquid. Bring quinoa and water to a boil. Then, reduce heat to low, cover and simmer until most of the liquid has been absorbed, 15 to 20 minutes. Fluff with a fork.​Avocado dressing: Mash half an avocado with a fork. Add quarter teaspoon of both salt and black pepper and finish with a squeeze of lime juice. Mix everything, add a little olive oil and/or water at a time to thin it out to your liking. Also if you have a mini processor, you can throw all the ingredients in there to make this dressing. Start building your salad. Wash and prep all the veggies. Start building your salad by mixing the romaine, spinach, kale and cucumber as a base. Add the quinoa and drizzle the dressing over the salad. Throw in some seed mix if you like. Voila!

There you have a super healthy salad for lunch or dinner! What is your favorite healthy salad? I'm always looking for new recipes & let me know if you try and love this!Lots of love,Hande​

​A couple of months ago, I was hiking with my friends in Muir woods. After our 4-hour hike, we headed to a fish and salad place nearby. Then, I was ready for dessert, as you do! ☺

A friend of mine was like “ Oh, but you can’t have ice cream! You are doing this healthy lifestyle thing, right!?”

I WAS SHOCKED!!

The idea that you CAN’T eat or do certain things if you’re into healthy living is just crazy! The idea that you shouldn't ever drink, eat sweets, fries or burgers anymore is insane to me. Maybe it was a fair question. Plus, she didn’t know me very well anyways. But still, I felt speechless.

I realized later that my friend’s reaction was just a reflection of the media, magazines and today's society in general. We are bombarded with images of how HEALTHY should look like. Every second of every day.

Haven't we all had enough of restrictions, DON’ts, quick fixes and fad diets!? This blog and my IG are all about living a simple, balanced and happy life that is free of labels and can’t’s!

I believe “healthy” looks different on everybody. We are all unique. While one healthy food (like peanuts) can be very good for me might be poisonous for someone else! Then, there’s the social media pressure to look perfect, be perfect and eat healthy all the time.I refuse that.

So, here’s my disclosure.

You will see me eat waffles on Sundays. You will see me drinking green juice one day and having a burger the next! You will see me walking to an ice-cream shop any random day on Insta-stories because I want to be real with you!

I’m not perfect. I am not the healthiest person you can find. I’m just a girl who is passionate about wellness, health, and happiness. I’ve found my own way of living all that. I hope you do too. I just want you to know that:

You don’t HAVE to be or do anything to start/live a healthy lifestyle. Find what feels goodfor you and stick with that!

Take good care of yourself because you love yourself and life so much!

I hope all this makes sense.

Please let me know if you’ve been in a similar situation or just in general want to talk about this. I will definitely write back. I love opening conversations around this topic! Stay real, happy and healthy, my friend!

Hi friends!I have to admit. I feel really strange as I write this post. A voice in my head says why would anybody read this. My life is not that interesting. But, then I remember my main message with this little corner of the Internet.​Empowering and inspiring each other!

So, I won’t let that inner critique hold me back. I'd be so happy if one person can relate to me and we can connect on a deeper level. Here are some fun facts about me!

Hi! I'm Hande!

I am originally from Turkey, the beautiful country in Eurasia famous with its history, and unique cuisine. #kebab, #turkishcoffee, #baklava ?

I've been living in San Francisco for almost 4 years now.

I’m currently a Pilates Instructor in SF. I specialize in Mat and Reformer work.

I have a master’s degree in Digital Media and Learning from the University of San Francisco. Go DONS!!

I love dark chocolate and spend all my money on pretty matcha lattes.

I truly get my energy from the sunshine and love socializing and being around people!

I also love being home alone and cuddling up with my cat and Kindle.

I started this website after a true quarter life crisis. This space healed me as I started sharing and connecting with like-minded people who are into wellness & living a balanced healthy lifestyle.

My domain name is my name + surname. It's bc my name will stay the same even though my interests and things I want to talk about here will change and evolve with me. So, it made sense to choose one thing that will never change. Well, I guess I was wrong, as I got married a few months later haha!

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Of course this list isn't enough to entirely define who I am. It's just a peak inside my life. Enough about me! I'd LOVE to get to know you more! Please say hi here or on Instagram if you're reading this! :) Thank you so much for being awesome & being a part of my life! Lots of love,​Hande

Oh boy, this was delicious! I literally devoured this 3 layered pancakes in3 minutes! I was having dreams about pancakes and waffles recently, as usual #notevensorry . :) And Sunday morning was the best excuse to sleep in and to make fresh vanilla pancakes for breakfast! This recipe is pretty simple, and can be prepared vegan. Do it and enjoy!

In a large bowl, mix together the flour, baking powder. Then, make a well in the center and pour in the milk, applesauce (OR egg) and vanilla extract; mix until smooth.

Heat a lightly oiled( w/ coconut oil) griddle or frying pan over medium high heat. Pour or scoop the batter onto the griddle, using approximately 1/4 cup for each pancake. Brown on both sides and let them get fluffy. Serve hot with your fav fruits!

The most amazing things started to happen in the last few weeks! I am already LOVING 2017! Overall, I feel much better and happier day to day. It feels like I’m actually creating my dream life.

Connecting with like-minded, strong and inspiring people is by far the best thing about social media in my opinion! I’ve met some amazing girls through Instagram and became friends in real life. So, if you are following me there @handemirel, please do say hi, I love meeting new people and interacting with you so much!

This post is actually inspired by Jules @omandthecity, whom I met this week and had the most amazing time doing yoga and hanging out in SF! You should check out her blog, it is so inspiring and she’s the most genuine and the sweetest person!

So, in this post, I want to share with you 12 mantras I use every single day to be more mindful and joyful while attracting all the good vibes in my life! I’ve written these down in a little notebook, and I try and literally repeat the sentences below right before I go to bed every night. Just by doing this, I believe that my mindset change so much for the better! I’ve started to shut down the worst inner critique in my head, and put in more positive thoughts for a change!

I hope these mantras inspire you to set a happier tone to your life and create powerful, positive vibrations! Feel free to pin this to your Pinterest board or share this with a friend who might use some help with positive thinking! :) (who doesn't, really!)